Car-free zone to be piloted at Mullingar school

A pilot scheme is to be launched at a school in Mullingar that will see the introduction of a car-free zone and signs to "turn-off engines when waiting".

The pilot is coming at the suggestion of Green Party councillor, Hazel Smyth – who received the suggestion from a local student whom she met through her involvement in a youth leadership competition organized by Rotary Ireland.

At the March meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, the executive responded to Cllr Smyth’s suggestion by stating that it was a worthwhile proposal, and that it had been forwarded to the Environment Section for action.

"The Environmental Awareness Officer is currently seeking out suitable signage and will liaise with the school concerned," Cllr Smyth was told.

Cllr Smyth revealed to colleagues that in Fingal County Council where there is a ‘park and stride’ policy around some of the schools.

"The data around it is actually really remarkable," she said, stating that a three month Impact Assessment Report found a 20% reduction in air pollution around the schools and an increase in sustainable travel modes by students.

She stressed that the suggestion was coming from feedback from students directly who were saying they would be willing to get out of the car to walk or to look at more sustainable modes of transport.

Cllr Denis Leonard hoped the idea could be expanded to all schools: "I think this would eliminate an awful lot of potential risks that happen at schools where we're trying to merge vehicular traffic with pedestrian and cycling traffic. I think if we could minimise the amount of vehicular traffic there it certainly would help that whole situation," he said.